"Always, Sir, set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord, will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you." ~ Samuel Johnson
This week, November 8-14, is Random Acts of Kindness Week, a time for global awareness and to celebrate the power and importance of kindness in our daily lives. Take time to spread kindness throughout your world today.
"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness," said novelist Washington Irving. "Making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."
Inspired by Berkeley writer and activist Anne Herbert's call to "practice random acts of senseless beauty," the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was established to help spark others to kindness. The Foundation provides activity ideas for families, faith groups, businesses, and communities and lesson plans for students of all ages.
Some great ideas for individuals include:
• Leaving enough money in the vending machine for the next person to get a free treat;
• Putting a flower in a neighbor's mail box;
• Picking up litter;
• Letting someone merge into traffic during rush hour;
• Adding a note or joke in your child's lunch box;
• Smiling at someone you don't know yet, and more...
"Being kind to others is a way of being good to yourself," advised inspirational writer Rabbi Harold Kushner.
Build bridges with acts of random kindness.